Themes & discussion of themes in A Tale of Two Cities Note: Cite the source of all material. All plagiarized material will be deleted.
1. In Chapter Sixteen of Book Two, Dickens describes a scene about flies searching for food and not caring if another fly dies right beside them. I think the flies represent people like Monsieur the Marquis because of both their indifference toward the death of others. Like Monsieur the Marquis, those who do not care about the lives of others will eventually lose their own lives. In a way, I think this is a theme about karma.
-Jasmine Lee 6/7/07 Could this be a theme of violence and oppression? In this case, the Marquis oppressing & exploiting those less fortunate.
2. In incidents such as reuniting Lucie Manette with her father and realizing Foulon is not really dead, the theme of resurrection comes up. Lucie was told that her father was dead in order to spare her the heartache of waiting for her father’s return. However, when he was revealed to be alive, but in prison, it was as if he had been resurrected from the dead. Doctor Manette was given a second chance at a life with his daughter. In addition, when Monsieur Defarge discovered that Foulon was still alive, the theme of resurrection once again came up. He had faked his death to escape the angry wrath from the peasant, but his peace was short lived as they eventually came and he faced a brutal death at the hands of the peasants. Resurrection plays a big part in A Tale of Two Cities and the development of the storyline.
Rosanna Chaoanw 7/8/07 Where else do we see Resurrection in this ATOTC? What about Jerry Cruncher?
3. In the book, the theme of love is also seen. First, there is the love between Lucie and her father, Doctor Manette. At first, Lucie patiently brings Manette back to life from the memories of eighteen years as a Bastille prisoner. Later on, Doctor Manette, out of love, takes the opportunity to repay her kindness by determinately trying to help Charles Darnay, her husband, out of prison and death.
Another example of love is that of Lucie and Charles Darnay. Their love is honest and ideal. Like Darnay promised, their relationship together helps Lucie and Manette's grow even stronger.
The most appealing love in the book is Carton's love for Lucie. One night, he confides in her, saying that he has lived a wasted life. He also tells her that he loves her, but does not expect her to waste any feelings for him. In the end, because of her, he willingly sacrafices his own life in the place of her husband.
Finally, there is the love between Lucie and Miss Pross. Near the end, Miss Pross determinately defends Lucie Manette, her mistress. Her victorious battle against Madame Defarge proves that true love conquers even the most powerful hate.
- ellen (07.13.07)
4. The theme of sacrifice appears many times in A Tale of Two Cities. When Charles Darnay revealed to Manette his real last name on the day of Darnay and Lucie's wedding, Manette realized that he was related to the men who falsely imprisoned him. No matter how angry it must have made Manette feel, he still kept it from Lucie and allowed her to marry the man that she loved. He was able to put aside his anger for the sake of his daughter. Also, Sidney Carton made one of the biggest sacrifices by giving up his life so Darnay could live a long, happy life with his family. Although Carton may feel slightly resentful that he is not the man that Lucie loves, he is able to put his differences aside in order to prevent Lucie from facing the heartache losing a husband entails. Each person makes sacrifices for the ones that they love because they want to do everything possible to make them happy.
- Rosanna (7/14/07)
5. The theme of sacrificed was shown in this book when Sydney Carton's death for Lucie and her husband was like Christ. Christ sacrificed his life for people so we can have a better life and be able to go to heaven. Carton acted similarly. He sacrificed his life for the Darnays so they could live more peacefully. Also, Lucie Manette sacrificed her time for her father when he first came out of prison. When Dr. Manette was released from prison, Lucie took care of him and helped him with his health, and even though she married Darnay, she still sacrificed her time to take care of her father.
- Jessica 08/12/07
6. The theme of resurrection also appears at Darnay's trial. Darnay is figuratively "dead" as he is accused for treason, but Sidney Carton brings him back to life by noting the similarity in looks between him and Darnay. The resurrection theme appears again through Jerry Cruncher. Cruncher is found to be a grave digger as his secret job. Unlike the other examples of figurative resurrection, Jerry Cruncher literally brings people out of their graves and "resurrects" them.
--Calvin (8/16/07)
7. The theme of secrecy also plays a role in the book. For example, in the beginning of the book, the three passengers that are all riding together are all mysterious to each other. No one can see each other's face. Each makes himself look like they're traveling alone. But no one knows anything about the other person. This is the first place where the theme of secrecy appears. Another instance is when Darnay tells a story about a prisoner in the Tower of London who wrote the word "dig" on the wall. Then Dr. Manette looks startled after he hears the story. No one knows why, but his past may have something to do with Darnay's story. Dr. Manette's past is kept secret throughout the book.
--Calvin (8/16/07)
8. The theme of social class is demonstrated in A Tale of Two Cities. The way of life between the lords of the town and the peasants are distinctly different. Whereas the lords, such as the "Monseigneur" and Monsieur the Marquis enjoy an extravagant lifestyle, the peasants are constantly hungry, "skin and bones," and destitute. The Monseigneur is fed chocolate by four servants; the peasants lick the floor with their tongues over spilled wine. However, although the peasants are dying before the lords' eyes, the nobility seem not to care about the peasants at all. Rather, they only tend to themselves. When Monsieur the Marquis runs over a peasant child with his carriage, he is indifferent towards his wrong-doing because he believes that because he is a lord, and the child is a peasant, his crime is little. {Melissa 8/17/07}
Note: Cite the source of all material. All plagiarized material will be deleted.
1. In Chapter Sixteen of Book Two, Dickens describes a scene about flies searching for food and not caring if another fly dies right beside them. I think the flies represent people like Monsieur the Marquis because of both their indifference toward the death of others. Like Monsieur the Marquis, those who do not care about the lives of others will eventually lose their own lives. In a way, I think this is a theme about karma.
-Jasmine Lee 6/7/07
Could this be a theme of violence and oppression? In this case, the Marquis oppressing & exploiting those less fortunate.
2. In incidents such as reuniting Lucie Manette with her father and realizing Foulon is not really dead, the theme of resurrection comes up. Lucie was told that her father was dead in order to spare her the heartache of waiting for her father’s return. However, when he was revealed to be alive, but in prison, it was as if he had been resurrected from the dead. Doctor Manette was given a second chance at a life with his daughter. In addition, when Monsieur Defarge discovered that Foulon was still alive, the theme of resurrection once again came up. He had faked his death to escape the angry wrath from the peasant, but his peace was short lived as they eventually came and he faced a brutal death at the hands of the peasants. Resurrection plays a big part in A Tale of Two Cities and the development of the storyline.
Rosanna Chaoanw 7/8/07
Where else do we see Resurrection in this ATOTC? What about Jerry Cruncher?
3. In the book, the theme of love is also seen. First, there is the love between Lucie and her father, Doctor Manette. At first, Lucie patiently brings Manette back to life from the memories of eighteen years as a Bastille prisoner. Later on, Doctor Manette, out of love, takes the opportunity to repay her kindness by determinately trying to help Charles Darnay, her husband, out of prison and death.
Another example of love is that of Lucie and Charles Darnay. Their love is honest and ideal. Like Darnay promised, their relationship together helps Lucie and Manette's grow even stronger.
The most appealing love in the book is Carton's love for Lucie. One night, he confides in her, saying that he has lived a wasted life. He also tells her that he loves her, but does not expect her to waste any feelings for him. In the end, because of her, he willingly sacrafices his own life in the place of her husband.
Finally, there is the love between Lucie and Miss Pross. Near the end, Miss Pross determinately defends Lucie Manette, her mistress. Her victorious battle against Madame Defarge proves that true love conquers even the most powerful hate.
- ellen (07.13.07)
4. The theme of sacrifice appears many times in A Tale of Two Cities. When Charles Darnay revealed to Manette his real last name on the day of Darnay and Lucie's wedding, Manette realized that he was related to the men who falsely imprisoned him. No matter how angry it must have made Manette feel, he still kept it from Lucie and allowed her to marry the man that she loved. He was able to put aside his anger for the sake of his daughter. Also, Sidney Carton made one of the biggest sacrifices by giving up his life so Darnay could live a long, happy life with his family. Although Carton may feel slightly resentful that he is not the man that Lucie loves, he is able to put his differences aside in order to prevent Lucie from facing the heartache losing a husband entails. Each person makes sacrifices for the ones that they love because they want to do everything possible to make them happy.
- Rosanna (7/14/07)
5. The theme of sacrificed was shown in this book when Sydney Carton's death for Lucie and her husband was like Christ. Christ sacrificed his life for people so we can have a better life and be able to go to heaven. Carton acted similarly. He sacrificed his life for the Darnays so they could live more peacefully. Also, Lucie Manette sacrificed her time for her father when he first came out of prison. When Dr. Manette was released from prison, Lucie took care of him and helped him with his health, and even though she married Darnay, she still sacrificed her time to take care of her father.
- Jessica 08/12/07
6. The theme of resurrection also appears at Darnay's trial. Darnay is figuratively "dead" as he is accused for treason, but Sidney Carton brings him back to life by noting the similarity in looks between him and Darnay. The resurrection theme appears again through Jerry Cruncher. Cruncher is found to be a grave digger as his secret job. Unlike the other examples of figurative resurrection, Jerry Cruncher literally brings people out of their graves and "resurrects" them.
--Calvin (8/16/07)
7. The theme of secrecy also plays a role in the book. For example, in the beginning of the book, the three passengers that are all riding together are all mysterious to each other. No one can see each other's face. Each makes himself look like they're traveling alone. But no one knows anything about the other person. This is the first place where the theme of secrecy appears. Another instance is when Darnay tells a story about a prisoner in the Tower of London who wrote the word "dig" on the wall. Then Dr. Manette looks startled after he hears the story. No one knows why, but his past may have something to do with Darnay's story. Dr. Manette's past is kept secret throughout the book.
--Calvin (8/16/07)
8. The theme of social class is demonstrated in A Tale of Two Cities. The way of life between the lords of the town and the peasants are distinctly different. Whereas the lords, such as the "Monseigneur" and Monsieur the Marquis enjoy an extravagant lifestyle, the peasants are constantly hungry, "skin and bones," and destitute. The Monseigneur is fed chocolate by four servants; the peasants lick the floor with their tongues over spilled wine. However, although the peasants are dying before the lords' eyes, the nobility seem not to care about the peasants at all. Rather, they only tend to themselves. When Monsieur the Marquis runs over a peasant child with his carriage, he is indifferent towards his wrong-doing because he believes that because he is a lord, and the child is a peasant, his crime is little. {Melissa 8/17/07}